Christchurch and Canterbury

The Canterbury Region begins south of Kaikoura and incorporates the majority of central-east South Island. Canterbury is predominantly a flat, broad plain, with the Southern Alps as a backdrop. The region is divided into five districts: North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, Banks Peninsula and Christchurch.

Christchurch
Christchurch offers parks, gardens, rivers and beaches at every turn. The South Island's largest city, Christchurch is situated on the Avon and Heathcote rivers, and located on the edge of the Canterbury Plains, backed by the Port Hills. It is almost like a typical English city with Gothic architecture and statues as well as many English-style parks and gardens.

There is a wonderful blend of the old with the new. Old facades are now home to stylish cafes, restaurants and boutique fashion stores. As 'The Garden City' of New Zealand, one third of the Christchurch is devoted to parks, public gardens and reserves. The most impressive are the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park.

North Canterbury
Arthur's Pass is an historic village set in a gap of the Southern Alps. Forests, lakes and snow-clad mountains are the draw-cards of this town. Arthur's Pass is famous for its beautiful national park. Its varied vegetation supports many native birds and there are many walks from the village through the park. There is also a great winding road and train track through the area. The centrepiece of the park is Mt Rolleston, at 2,661 metres.

Hanmer Springs is a holiday destination based around its thermal springs. In a beautiful setting, particularly during the autumn, hot springs are scattered throughout the forest of massive redwood trees. Set at the base of the pristine Amuri mountain range, the Hanmer Spring thermal area is less than town hours north of Christchurch.

Waipara is the centre of Canterbury's wine industry. You can catch a steam train to picturesque Weka Pass to view limestone formations and picnic by the Waipara River.

Mid Canterbury
Rakaia takes its name from the river which lends the town its title of 'the salmon capital' of New Zealand. The river is Rakaia's major attraction with jet boating, kayaking, rafting and, of course, salmon fishing.

Ashburton is the major centre, set on the broad Canterbury Plains. Snow-capped mountains preside over sheep grazing flats and rivers sweep through. The Ashburton River is formed just above the town and stretches 115 kilometres.

Methven was once a quiet farming township, but today it is a hub of activity especially during the ski season. Mount Hutt, Porter Heights, Mount Dobson and Craigieburn are all close by for skiing. During the summer people come for the walks and fishing as well as the opportunities to enjoy the restful countryside.

South Canterbury
Also referred to as Mackenzie Country, South Canterbury is where the plains give way to undulating downland. Behind the downs rise ranges which include Mt Cook. At 3754m, Mt Cook towers over 70,000 hectares of the alpine wonderland that is Mt Cook National Park. You can explore the park by foot, skis, 4WD or helicopter.

Lake Tekapo is the most scenic lake in the Mackenzie. Over 700m above sea level, the air is clear, fresh and crisp. The lake is used for hydro-electric power.

Timaru is built on gentle hills above the curve of Caroline Bay. Behind the beach is a stretch of gardens, popular with picnickers. The area contains many Maori rock art sites and also has many buildings of historical interest.

Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula is a rugged rural area with two harbours (Lyttelton and Akaroa) plus great beaches, bays and inlets. The town of Akaroa, set on the harbour of the same name is built into the steep surrounding hills, constricting the town. Originally a French settlement, Akaroa offers distinctive architecture and a peaceful lifestyle.

Lyttleton is a quaint township perched on the hillside overlooking its harbour. Just 13km from Christchurch, Lyttelton has fine old buildings, churches and Victorian cottages. Lyttelton is a busy, and major, port for the South Island.

The South Island is cooler than the North Island by a few degrees. Winter in New Zealand is from June to August and summer is from December to February. There are regional variations: It is quite warm and pleasant up in the Northland region at any time of the year. Higher altitudes are always considerably cooler, and it is usually windy in Wellington, which catches the winds whistling through the Cook Straight.